In 1945 the Fifth Pan-African Congress took place here in Manchester, it was an iconic event with a seismic, global impact on Africa’s future and freedom. Ntombizodwa Nyoni’s powerful new play LIBERATION brings the incredible people of the Congress into sharp focus 80 years after the event.
In 1945 the Fifth Pan-African Congress took place here in Manchester, it was an iconic event with a seismic, global impact on Africa’s future and freedom. Ntombizodwa Nyoni’s powerful new play LIBERATION brings the incredible people of the Congress into sharp focus 80 years after the event. Director Monique Touko has assembled an extraordinary cast for this Royal Exchange Theatre world premiere alongside an impressive creative team including Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective’s Ife Ogunjobi, and Movement Director Kloé Dean. This production runs from 27 June – 26 July as part of Manchester International Festival 2025.
Inspired by true events in Black British history, LIBERATION traces the private lives of the activists who fought to liberate Africa. The exceptional ensemble cast includes: Leonie Elliott (CALL THE MIDWIFE, BBC; SMALL ISLAND, National Theatre) as Jamaican activist Alma La Badie, whilst Eric Kofi Abrefa (JULIE, National Theatre; SUPACELL, Netflix) takes on the role of Kwame Nkrumah, the man who would go on to be the first President of Ghana. Activist Amy Ashwood-Garvey is played by Pamela Nomvete (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, West End; NIGHTSLEEPER, BBC), and journalist and author George Padmore is played by Eamonn Walker (CHICAGO FIRE, NBC; OTHELLO, Shakespeare’s Globe).
The rest of the brilliant cast are comprised of Rudolphe Mdlongwa (IS GOD IS, Royal Court; BARBERSHOP CHRONICLES, UK Tour) as Makumalo Hlubi, Tonderai Munyevu (AS YOU LIKE IT, Shakespeare’s Globe; BLACK MEN WALKING, Royal Court) as Jomo Kenyatta, Tachia Newall (DOCTOR WHO, Disney+; LIGHT FALLS, Royal Exchange Theatre) as Len Johnson, Joshua Roberts-Mensah (DRUM, Omnibus Theatre) as Joe Appiah, Bex Smith (CORONATION STREET, ITV; THE SOCIAL, Not Too Tame) as Betty Dorman and Nicola Stephenson (OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD, Lyric Hammersmith; WAR HORSE, National Theatre/West End) as Dorothy Pizer.
As previously announced, the creative team also includes Set Designer Paul Wills, Costume Designer Sunny Dolat, Lighting Designer Matt Haskins, Sound Designer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, Casting Director Sophie Parrott CDG and Intimacy & Fight Director Bethan Clark.
LIBERATION gets to the heart of how our future is built, how our leaders are made, and how dreams are realised. With generational shifts and gender politics added to a swirling mix of power dynamics, LIBERATION asks timeless questions about revolution, freedom, and what it means to be an activist.
Discover an exhibition in the Great Hall about the history of the Pan African Congress in 1945. The exhibition is in partnership with the Race, Roots & Resistance Collective’s Emerging Scholars Programme with support from Dr Kerry Pimblott and the AHRC project, ‘Grassroots Struggles, Global Visions: British Black Power, 1964-1985’.